Former presidential spokesperson Femi Adesina has weighed in on the controversy surrounding the death of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari in a London hospital, asserting that the former leader might not have survived had he relied on Nigerian healthcare.
Speaking during Channels Television’s special broadcast dedicated to Buhari’s funeral on Tuesday, Adesina addressed criticisms aimed at Buhari’s preference for receiving medical care abroad, particularly in the United Kingdom.
Adesina reminded viewers that Buhari had a longstanding relationship with medical professionals in the UK long before he became president in 2015. “He had always used London hospitals,” Adesina noted, adding that switching doctors or medical institutions would have been unnecessary and possibly detrimental given the familiarity UK doctors had with his health condition.
He also pointed to the limitations of Nigeria’s healthcare system, emphasizing that some local hospitals still lack the necessary infrastructure and expertise to handle complex medical cases. According to him, the decision to continue with UK medical care was not just a matter of preference but one rooted in the critical need for specialized treatment.
While Buhari’s consistent medical trips abroad had previously drawn public criticism during his presidency, Adesina maintained that such decisions were practical rather than political or elitist. “Those who have a problem with him dying in a London hospital don’t understand that the same facility and team had been treating him for years,” he said.
Buhari passed away on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in a London hospital after a prolonged illness. He was 82 years old.
What you should know
Femi Adesina, Buhari’s former media aide, defended the late president’s choice to seek medical care in the UK, arguing that Nigerian hospitals lacked the necessary capacity to treat him effectively.
Adesina stressed that the UK doctors’ longstanding knowledge of Buhari’s medical history was vital to his care.
